2021 Timeline Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 750 ml

Trevor Sheehan’s Blundstones were coated in pale dust when we met him for lunch at Charter Oak in St. Helena. In each hand he was carrying a bottle of wine. Every time we meet with Trevor, we know we’re in for something special, but we couldn’t imagine it would take the shape of a stunning weeknight Cabernet that drinks like a Pritchard Hill heavyweight. 

We shouldn’t have been surprised. Sheehan got his start over a decade ago making finely delineated bottles of Beckstoffer Chardonnay and sumptuous Howell Mountain Cabernet. He’s never sourced grapes from less than the best, and this one comes from Sage Canyon—just downhill from $200-per-bottle territory on Pritchard Hill—and Chiles Valley.

Sheehan, clad in a quarter-zip and jeans, strongly encouraged everyone to order Charter Oak’s iconic green chile cheeseburger medium-rare, and we went along for the ride. By now we were used to our buddy’s meticulous nature—a trait we recognize in most of our favorite winemakers—and knew it could only mean that a spot-on pairing awaited us. 

Uncorking the first bottle, Sheehan poured four ounces of deep ruby into our glasses. All we could think of was Pritchard Hill. With each swirl, blackberry preserves leapt from the glass, with waves of lilacs and violets, tobacco, and graphite following closely behind. The mouthfeel was lush and powerful, with dusty dark fruit that seemed to come in waves.

We asked our friend how he pulled it off. 

“An NDA,” he said “I can’t tell you anything more, because you’ll figure it out.”

With Trevor, we’ve learned not to ask too much more. He gave us first shot at this winner, and we took all we could get.